The Detroit Tigers have signed relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan in order to help out their bullpen. This is a significant risk for the team, since Hanrahan is coming off an injury-shortened season with the Boston Red Sox and had to undergo Tommy John surgery.
CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman first reported on the signing on Twitter. Later, USA Today’s Bob Nightengale said that the deal is worth $1 million, but Hanrahan can earn up to $2 million with incentives.
Hanrahan is 32 and has spent seven seasons in the MLB with the Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and the Red Sox, notes ESPN. He has 76 saves in his career and made it to the 2011 and 2012 National League All-Star teams.
He switched to the American League last season when he joined the Red Sox, but he had Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last May, forcing him to miss most of the season.
Tigers general manager David Dombrowski said that there wasn’t a “specific time frame” for Hanrahan’s return to the big leagues. However, his agent, Larry Reynolds believes he could be ready by mid to late July, according to Nightengale.
Joel Hanrahan should be ready to pitch for #Tigers sometime in mid to late June, his agent, Larry Reynolds, believes.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) May 2, 2014
The Tigers’ bullpen has struggled early this season and has a 5.37 ERA. Still, the team is 14-9 and on top of the AL Central.
Guess the news is out! Excited to be joining @tigers thank you for all the support! Look forward to getting back soon pic.twitter.com/PuLmKGcLQT
— Joel Hanrahan (@hanrahan52) May 2, 2014
image via Twitter from Joel Hanrahan